cohen

n. a Jewish priest who is a direct male descendant of Aaron from the Bible.

n. a member of the Jewish priestly class, traditionally considered a patrilineal descendant of the biblical high priest Aaron.

“In some Jewish traditions, a Cohen is called first to read from the Torah.”

“The status of a Cohen carries specific ritual responsibilities and marriage restrictions within certain branches of Orthodox Judaism.”

Technical

n. a very common Jewish family name.

n. the most prevalent Jewish surname, derived from the Hebrew word for priest.

“Leonard Cohen was a famous singer and poet from Canada.”

“The researcher noted that the surname Cohen appears frequently in the records of 19th-century European Jewish communities.”

Formal